Introduction

HI and welcome to my new blog.  I have decided to start blogging as a way to chronicle my journey as a homeschooling mother.  I never thought I would homeschool even though many who follow an alternative lifestyle do.  I don't consider myself that alternative or radical, but I do follow the principals of natural and attachment parenting.  I'm an avid breastfeeder, I baby wear, use cloth diapers, natural cleaning and body products, try to eat clean, visit the chiropractor and eschew most modern medicine (including vaccinations). 
I am a Roman Catholic and have been all my life.  I have gone through various degrees of separation from the Church.  Seems like I have cyclically come back to the mother Church, and currently I have experienced a conversion and am trying to live as a full and true Catholic. 
I feel compelled to discuss my reasons for homeschooling even though I generally avoid this topic.  I truly don't like discussing it, it makes me uncomfortable because I feel so very counter culture and I don't like insinuating that sending chidren to school makes anyone amoral, lazy or love your child any less than I do. 
With that said, the reasons I am choosing to homeschool this year are because I think 5 years old is too little to be gone from home for 7 hours a day.  I am not a fan of our popular culture and the early sexualization of girls  Does sending your kid to school contribute to that?  I think that the peer culture of our society does contribute to it, and children become obsessed with what their peers are doing.  I don't like the popular songs on the radio and the messages they convey and the immodest dress that even small girls wear these days. (Have you looked at the selection of clothing for girls starting size 7, gross!)
I am trying to teach the children the fundamentals of the Faith.  Let me rephrase that, the children and I are learning the fundamentals of the Faith together.  My own Catholic upbringing was very superficial, although weekly mass attendance and praying was stressed.  I performed all the sacraments of course, but it mostly felt like something done out of obligation and I can confess that in my heart I didn't know and feel the true meaning of it all. 
Another reason I am homeschooling is because I am in love with the Montessori Method and find real truth in value in it.  If I could send my children to a Montessori school, I would probably do it.  There are a couple of public options, but the lottery is competitive and we didn't make it.
I named my blog Vista Montessori, but I don't pretend to be anywhere near to a montessori school.  I'm using Montessori methods among other things.  My style so far is an ecletic mix of Montessori, Charlotte Mason, and Classical education. 
I'm hoping this blog will allow me to document my children's lives.  A friend has a fabulous blog where all her children's lives are chronicled and I really love that.  Also, I'm hoping it will give family an idea of what we are doing and a way to keep up with us.